Electric system



E. P. LARSHl ELECTRIC SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21. 1915.

Patented July 27, 1920.

` L@ A /1/ COMME( 'mm3 z,

III g UNITED STATES PATENT loFFlcr..

EVERETT P. LARSH, 0F DAYTON,' OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BURNETT-LARSI-I IISLIA'NU' FACTURING COMPANY, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.-

l Application led .Tune 21,

'State of Ohio, have invented certainv new and useful Improvements in Electric Systems, of which the followingy is a specifica@ tion.

My invention relates to electrical systems and more particularly to anl automatic generating system adapted to be-set in operation by the closing of the distribution circuit.-

The object ofthe invention is to simplify the structure aswell as the means and mode of operation of such systems whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more efficient in operation, entirely automatic, positiverin action, and unlikely to get out of repair.

A 'further object of the invention is to provide in such a system a generator capable of being initially operatedl from a low voltage battery for the purpose of cranking vor starting the prime-mover.

A further Vobject is to provide in such a system means for automatically recharging the battery discharged instartlng from the generator which it has previously energizedl and for safe guarding and protecting the sundry circuits by means of coacting relays and armatures.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide in an` automatic generating system a series of interlocking circuits designed to cut out certain coils or relays and circuits before the others arecaused to operate and to avoid possible short circuiting of the system. I With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the' features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the A claims. f

The drawing is a diagrammaticview of the automatic generating system forming the subject matter hereof. f

The automatic system herein described embodies a generator connected to and driven by an explosive engine as now commonly employed. The generator is provided with two series field windings, first the ordinary generator series .field winding, and i SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pet-13911133.11July 27, 14920.

1915. Serial No. 35,390.

second a motor series field winding by means of which the generator may be operated at low voltage from a storage battery for the purpose of initial cranking the explosive engine. The low voltage storage battery emp loyed is connected across the distributionv line in series with a starting relay which is energized from the battery by the closing of the distribution circuit either by means of a switch, a lamp, or other current cony -suming connections, to cause the` closing -of a successlon of circults whereby current from the Storage battery is connected through the low voltage ory motor series windings of the generator to cause the generator to operate as a motor to crank or start4 the explosive engine.

As the explosive engine comes into operation the direction of power is reversed and the explosive engine becomes the driver and the generator the driven'element thereby allowing the latter to build up as a compound generator.A The potential of the generatorE increases until the electro motive force thereof exceeds that of the storage battery, whereupon the directionI of flow of the current will be reversed causing the operation of various relays and armatures to supply )current direct to the distribution circuit" from "the generator and to recharge the storage battery preparatory to the next starting operation. In the diagram the circuits have been shown in normal condition, the. explosive engine being at rest and the storage battery fully charged. i

Referring tothe diagram, a, and b-b are the main lines leading to the distribution system. For convenience in identifying analogous parts, the ymotor series field windp ing has been indicated by M, the generator series field by Gr, and the storage battery by B. The relays responsive to each of these elements have been correspondingly indicated with exponents indicating the order in which these relays are energized.

rlfhe main line a is connected to the posi-v o o is connected to the negative side there-v of. The line 5 5 is divided into two sections by make and break contacts as hereafter described, the separateparts being inthese lines, being connected at one side d-i- I rectly to the line a and at the opposite side through the line c to the starting relay B and thence through theV line c to the main line b. It is to be noted that a lamp m is included in the line c for the purpose of controlling the chargingBof the battery B. al

' circuit whereby the contact relay B2 is ener ized by current from the battery B.

hen thus energized the relay B2 attracts its armature and thereby closes three contacts 3, 4, and 5. The closing of contacts 3 and .4 closes independent circuits through the differential windings B3, G',

respectively, of the voltage lock out relay.

The circuit which includes the winding B3 is a battery circuit whereby the winding B3 is connected across the battery. The winding B3 is thus immediatelyV energized under battery iniuence. Tothe contrary, the circuit which includes the winding G. connects said winding across the generator which at the time of the operation of the relay 2 is idle. winding Gr is included connects with only one side of the battery, viz: the side a. Therefore, being connected at one side only of the battery and the generator being idle no current will iiow through the winding Gr Gr and B3 are arranged in opposition one to the other whereby the coil G will neutralize the effect of the coil B3, permitting the retraction of the armature.

Upon the closing of the contacts 3 and 5, battery current passes through the line d2 to the contact 5, then to the contact 3, through the line e to the winding B3 and completes the circuit through lthe line e to the opposite side of the battery B. The winding B3 is thus connected across the battery.

Thewinding jGr is brought linto circuit by theclosing of the contact 4 and is bridged across the terminals of the generator ina circuit extending from the main line a through the line d2 to the contact 5, thence tothe contact 4 and through the line f to the .winding G and thence through the line f to the section b of the main line which is connected to the opposite erator.

The .attraction of vthe armature by the lockout relay under the influence qof the winding B3 by the battery current through the circuits d2, e and e', as before described, closes contacts 8 and 9.*l

side of the gen- This circuit in which the until the generator is started. The windings.

` volts.

The closing of these contacts 8 and 9 by the lock out relay closes the battery circuit through the winding B4r of the reverse power relay. The battery circuit then passes from the main line a through the line g to the contacts 10 and 11 which are connected one to the other by the armature of the load relay when the latter is in normal -or deenergized position, thence throu h the line g to the contact 9 which is close with contact 8 by the armature of the lock out relay,

thence through the line gZ to the winding B* of the reverse power rela which is connected through y with the line e leading to the opposite side of the battery.

The reverse power relay bein energized under the influence of the win ing B* attracts its armature and closes the contacts- 18, 19 and 20 thereby ,bridging the generator armature and the special low voltage motor series ield windings of the generator across the battery circuit. The current then asses from the Stora e battery B through the main line to t e enerator armature and through the special ow voltage motor series field winding M thence through the line h to the winding of the reverse power relay and through the line h2 to the contact 18, closed with the contact 20 by the armature, and thence through the line gr3 and line e to the opposite side of the battery.

The coil M of the reverse power relay is thus connected in series with the motcr and battery and tends to hold the contacts 18, 19, and 20 closed independent of the battery winding B4. The resistance of the power relay armature is such that the relay will open when-the current passing through the coil M decreases to a predetermined value, for instance five amperes, corresponding to a motor speedv greater than that attained while driving the explosive engine against friction and compression during the initial cranking or starting operation.

The generator armature and the special low voltage motor series field winding M being thus yconnected in circuit with the .storage batter B, the generator is operated as a motor an the explosive engine is driven at crankmg speed b thls accumulative compound motor, the s unt field of which is so weak that the characteristic is prevailingly series.

The closing of the contact 19 by the reing the circuit of the coil-B4 of the reverse A verse power relay energizes the winding B5 of the load relay by closing the circuit through the line d2 from the main linea, thence through the contacts 5 and 3 and line 1I to the winding B5 of the load relay, thence through the line i to the contact 19, closed with contact 20, throughfthe line g5 and e to the opposite side of the battery.

The operation of the load relay under the influence of the coil B5 opens the line g-g' between the contacts and 11 thereby openpower relay. The armature thereof is then maintainedin closed position solely under tends to accelerate its speed, thereby revers` the influence of the coil M which releases the armature, as before mentioned, when theeXplosive engine ignites itsl charges and ing the direction of power transmission between the engine and generator.

The closing ofl the load relay armature, under the influence of the winding B5, serves to bridge said winding B5 across the battery circuit independent of the line f and the re` Versev power relay. This is accomplished through the line y' and contacts 17 and 15 closed by the armature of the loadrelay,

thence through the line j to the line e and to theopposite side of the battery. The load relay is thus maintained under the influence of the battery current and the opening of the reverse power relay, as before described,

. merely disconnects the batterygfrom the special low voltage motor series field wind ings of the generator and allows the latter to build up as a shunt generator.

rlhe operation of the load relay armature, closing contacts 15 and 16, brings into circuit the ignition devices of the explosive engine' and also a charging relay B5. The ignition circuit passes from the battery through the line a, thence through the line d2 to the line lr: and through the spark coil to the circuit breaker, and thence through the line 7c to the contact 16 which is connected with contact 15 bythe armature and thence through line j to the line e and to the opposite side of the battery.

The load relay armature, acting under the influence of thewinding B5 has at the same time closed a second series of contacts 12, 18

and 14. By closing the contacts 12- and 14' the generator and its accumulative series field are temporarily connected 'across the distribution system through the line b to the winding G2 of the load relay, thence to the contact 14 closed with contact 12 and through line m to the starting relay B and thence through line c to the section b of the the influence of the winding G and the retractionv of the armature operates to break the contacts 8 and 9 and close contacts 6 and 7 L The main line sections I) and b are thus connected through the contacts 6` and 7 eX- cluding the starting relay B from the cir- The contacts 13 and 14 in the main line b having'been previously connected by the operation of 4the load relay, the main line is thus completed.

The generator current is raised to its normal value which, with a load on the dis* tribution Lsystem or the' charging lamp y maintained in circuit, is sui'licient to'hold the load relay closed under the influence of the winding G2 independent of the battery windingB5. The coil or winding B5 is deenergized by the release of thevoltage lock out relay armature which opens the contacts 8 and 9 and short circuits the starting relay B through lcontactsl2and 13. The opening of contact 2 disconnects relay B2, and the breaking/contacts 3 and 5 by said relay B2 disconnects winding B5 of the load relay leaving the latter relay maintained solely by coil G2 under influence of the generator.

The load relay remains closed under the influence of the winding G2 and the eXplosive engine continues to drive the generator to supply current to the distribution system so long as there is any load on the distribution line or so long as the charging lamp y remains in the circuit. The charging lamp y is .Controlled through the contacts 21 and 22 by the charging relay B6.

The charging relay B6 is energized by the battery through the line Z from the line d2 to the relay BG and thence through the line Z to the line lo', thence through the contacts 16 and 15 and line k2 to the line e leading to the opposite side of the battery. lWhen the relay BG is energized by battery current sufficiently to overcome the resistance of its armature, which will only occur when the battery is fully charged, the contacts 21-22 are opened and the lamp y is `21 and 22 open. However, when the battery voltage drops, due to the use of currentffor starting, control current, etc., whereby the iniiuence of the vcharging relay falls below the tension of its armature spring, the contacts 21 and 22 are closed by the charging relay armature, thereby closing the circuit through the line n and reconnecting the I relays B1, B2., B-G,

charging lamp 'y' in parallel with the lamp until the battery isfull charged, whereupon the charging relay Bz by attractionof its armature will open the contacts 21 and 22, thereby' again disconnecting the line ln, and lamp y. i

In order that the `armatures of the several 4-M B5G2 and. Bc may be promptly retracted upon their release by the respective magnets, and may resistuattraction until the'operating current attains sufiicient voltage, the armatures may be weighted whereby their retractive movement will occur under the influence of gravity or each armature may be provided with a retracting spring as is commonl in electromagnet constructions.

If the distribution circuit is closed for only a short time suflicient'ito cause the operation of the system to start the engine and generator and is then immediately opened or'the light in the distribution system turned ofi', the engine and enerator will continue to operate until the attery which was'dis charged in starting the engine and' genertor is fully recharged. Thus the connections between e battery and the generator, having been established by the closing of the distribution circuit, are thereafter maintained independent of the distribution circuit until the completion of the recharging period.

In addition to the system of automatic electrical control described, there is provided an electrical regulator or governor for the prime operator or engine comprising a solenoid 23 bridged across the shunt field of the generator. The movable core of this solenoid is connected with a control valve 24 of the engine which may be the valve supplying fuel to the engine but is preferably the valve controlling the supply of air to the explosive mixture. The construction is such that fluctuations in -the generator potential will automatically vary the adjustment of the valve. Increases in the potentialof the generator will tend to closethe engine valve and a decrease of potential will tend to open said valve whereby the engine and generator will be automatically maintained in balanced relation one with the other.

It is to be noted that the system herein described is entirely automatic inits operation and is controlled solely by the turning off and on of a lamp or other current consuming element in the distribution system. Inasmuch as the control is automatic and the several elements are interde endent one instruments such as indicators, ages and meters is obviated and the operation of the system is entirely within the power of persons unskilled in electrical'science.

From the above description it will be ap- 1,347,54e A f features, it is to be understood that the f means and construction herein described comprise but one mode of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed broadly in any of its possible forms or modifications Withinthe scope of the ap# pended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electrical system as described, a distribution circuit, a generator adapted to normally supply current to the distribution circuit, a special low voltage motor field windin in said generator, an explosive engine a apted to normally drive the generator, 'a battery of lower voltage than the normal operating voltage of the generator, said battery being recharged after each starting operation hereafte' mentioned by said generator preparatory to the succeeding starting operation, and normally open electrically operated switches intermediate the generator, battery and distribution line and means whereby the initial closing of .the distribution circuit will automatically connect the said special low voltage motor series field winding of the generator with the low voltage battery to drive said generator as a motor to initially operate the explosive engine.

2. In an electrical system as described, the combinationof an explosive engine, a generator normally driven by the engine and supplying current to the hereafter mentioned distribution circuit and battery, for the purpose of recharging said battery preparatory to the next starting operation, a

attery of lower voltage than the normal operating voltage of the generator, a special low votage motorseries field winding in said generator, a distribution circuit, and normally open intermediate connections automatically actuated by the closing of the distribution circuit by which the battery ma be electrically connectedwith the specia low voltage field winding to operate the generator as a motor for the purpose of starting the engine.

3. In an electrical system as described, an explosive engine, a generator actuated thereby, a distribution circuit, a battery bridged across the distribution circuit, -a'make and break contact intermediate the generator Lassie e y and distribution circuit, an automatically' operated control element for said make and break contact common to both the battery and the generator, and intermediate con, nections whereby the closing of the distribution circuit. will automatically .close the said contact under the influence of battery current until the potential of the generator exceeds that of the battery and means whereby the `contact will thereafter be maintained closed under the influence of the generator current.

4. In an electrical system, a distribution circuit, a generator having a special low voltage series field winding, an engine normally driving the generator, anda battery of lower voltage than tlie normal operating voltage of the generator connected with the special low voltage series eld winding and operating said generator on a voltage substantially lower than the normal operating voltage of the generator to drive the engine at cranking speed, and an automatically operated. switch controlled by normal generator current to automatically connect the 5. In anvelectrical system as described, a distribution circuit, a generator, an explosive engine driving the generator to supply currentvv to the distribution circuit, a` storage battery charged by said generator, and electrically operated means controlled by current from said battery for stopping the engine upon the opening of the distribution` circuit in the event that said battery is fully charged but inoperative for stopping the engine if said battery is not fully p char ed.

6. n an electrical system as described, a distribution circuit, a generator, a storage battery, anexplosive engine driving the y generator to supply current to the distribu tion circuit and to said battery, andan electrical ignition circuit for s aid engine, electrically operated means for maintaining the ignition circuit closed 4under the influence of the batteryv current, and means `for interrupting the ignition circuit by the open-l ing oi the distribution circuit, said interrupting means being inoperative until said battery is fully charged.

7. :ln an electrical system as described, a

distribution circuit, a generator normally supplying said circuit, aninternal combus- .tion engine driving the generator, an igni tion circuit for the engine,.a battery bridged across the distribution circuit charged by,

said generator, an electrically operated means common to both the battery and generator for controlling the ignition circuit adapted tobetinitially operated to close the 'ignition circuit under the influence of'battery current upon the initial'closing of the distribution circuit and meanswhereby said ignition circuit will be maintained closed independent of the condition ofthe distribution circuit until said battery is fully recharged, and means for opening the ignition circuit when. said battery receives Aits full charge.

f 8. In an electrical system as described, a distribution circuit, a generator supplying said circuit, a battery bridged across the distribution circuit and charged by said generator, a make and break contact in the distribution circuit intermediate the battery' and generator, and electrically controlled means common to both battery and generator initially operated underthe influence of the battery current to close said make and break contact upon the closing of the distribution circuit beyond the battery, and maintained in operated condition bygenerator current subsequent to the opening of the distribution circuit, and means to open said contact subsequentto the opening of the distribution circuit, when said battery has been fully charge 9. In an electrical system as described, a distribution circuit, a generator supplying the said circuit, a battery bridged across the distribution circuit, a generator supplying the circuit, a battery bridged across the distribution circuit, a Amake and break contact in the distribution circuit intermediate the generatorand battery, electrically operated means common to both battery and generator vcontrolling the make and break contact adapted to be initiallyA energized upon the closing of the distribution circuit, and a second circuit adapted to neutralize the effect of the closing of the distribution circuit whereby said electrically operated vmeans will be rendered inelective thereby permit' ting the return of the make and brake c ontact to normal condition.

l1. lnan electrical system as described, a distribution circuit, a generator supplying the circuit, a battery brldged across the distribution circuit, a make and, break contact in the distribution circuit intermediate the generator and battery, electrically operated lmeans common to both battery and generator controlling the make and break contact A influenced by battery current upon the closing of the .distribution circuit through the battery to o en said make and break Contact and therea ter iniuenced bythe generator` current to effect the closing of the said make and break contact.

lll-5 ias 12. In an electrical system, as described, a

distribution circuit, a generator supplying ond relay -electrically connected with said battery by the operation of the first mentioned relay, a battery circuit and a generthird double wound relay one winding ator circuit both closed by the operation of said second relay, a double wound relay the Awindings of which are so arranged that the influence of one winding will neutralize that ofthe other winding, one of said windings being in said battery circuit and the other winding being in the generator circuit closed by said second relayfa second double wound relay one winding of which is brought into the battery circuit by the operation of the first menti-oued double wound relay acting under the influence of battery current, the other ewinding of which is' adapted to` be brought into the battery circuit in series with the motor winding of the generator by the operation of said last mentioned relay underl thel influence of batter current through the first mentioned winding, and a of which is electrically connected with the battery by the operation of the second mentioned double wound relay, the other winding of which is in circuit with the generator, ulstantially as and for the purpose speci- 13. In an electrical system as described, a distribution circuit, a generator supplying said circuit, a low voltage motor winding in said generator, a prime operator driving the generator, a battery adaptedy to receive current from the generator, means for electrically connecting the battery with the motor winding of the generator upon the closing of 'the distribution circuit, and electrically operated means under the control of the battery for maintaining lthe battery and generator in a closed circuit independent of the distribution circuit until the battery is fully charged.

14. In an electrical system as described, a distribution circuit, a generator supplying current to the said circuit, a battery supplied by said generator, means for electrically connecting the battery with the generator upon the closing of the distribution circuit,

.and electrically operated means controlled by battery current for maintaining the con- `nection between the battery and generator Yand subsequently operating said generator through the motor iield windings thereof to drive said engine. at cranking speed, and means for maintaining the battery in the circuit with said enerator until fully recharged and for disconnecting said battery from the generator when recharged independent of the opening or closing of the distribution circuit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of J une, A. D. 1915.

EVERETT P. LARSH.

Witnesses:

ALFRED MCCRAY, F. L. WALKER. 

